You've got Zen on you

As a game that's been out for a while, Zenonia 3: The Midgard Story may have already attracted all the attention it possibly can.

Not only has the Zenonia 3 for iPhone been floating around on iTunes since as far back as April, but the game is also among the best RPGs on Android.

The hack ‘n’ slash formula the Zenonia series is known for has always been a little shackled by the use of its sticky onscreen D-pad. As ever, we were counting on the Play’s buttons to fix this, and the result is (mostly) a satisfying one.

Gone for a slash

Not much has changed, which can be a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about the franchise. The world of Zenonia is still a brightly coloured, well-animated, monster-riddled place.

The art direction owes a lot to JRPGs before it, and as you slash away at your foes, spilling blood and numbers in frenzy of movement, it’s clear that the focus of the series hasn't changed.

The only real difference is the volume of quests, maps, dungeons, monsters, and boss battles. There are over 100 quests, over 200 areas to traipse through, and hundreds of weapons, armour, and items to equip.

Zenonia 3 is no means a slim game. Just following the main storyline will slice the hours away from your day.

Would you like to see the menu?

Most of that time is spent in visceral button-bashing combat. Dicing your enemies up generally involves mashing the X button over and over again, which can get a little repetitive, especially early in the game when the rest of your skills and moves are limited.

This is mostly cured as the story wears on and you're given the ability to use potions, buffs, and the powers of your trusted fairy companion. You do all this via the touchscreen, as with the standard Android version - the Xperia Play's physical controls are limited to attacking, moving, and dashing with a double-tap in any direction.

Once things get going, half of the game is spent in the menus, and Zenonia 3's menu system is uncluttered and largely self-explanatory, taking the form of a series of boxes to fill and skills to upgrade.

Good vs Gamevil

It’s a pity that this well-judged design isn’t extended to the rest of the game, which can get a little simplistic after a while.

The appeal of beating the next boss, levelling up, and equipping new items largely gets you through, but sometimes it can feel like the grind has supplanted the gameplay – a flaw admittedly not unique to Zenonia 3.

Meanwhile, the story is the usual ‘battle of good and evil’ bosh involving angels, demons, and very dull exposition in between.

Still, Zenonia 3 is a more than competent Android RPG. If you’ve been skirting past it in the Android Market for the past few months, it may be time to give it a chance.